Oral Surgery

Looking for Oral Surgery in Fountain Hills? For an appointment at Fountain Hills Dental Care call our office today at 480-837-2000 or make an appointment today.

Alveolar Onlay Grafts

Alveolar onlay grafts may be used to recreate the bone where teeth have been missing for a long time or an area where an infected tooth has caused destruction to the bone. The alveolar onlay graft is done to prepare for dental implants. We will use the bone from your chin or wisdom tooth areas and fit the graft to lie over the area of bone deficiency. The bone will be placed with special screws that will be removed when the implant is placed. If there is an extreme bone deficit, the doctor may need to extract bone from a larger bone such as your hip in order to completely restore the jaw bone and shape.

You must allow the bone graft to heal and completely fuse with the jaw bone, which can take several months. When healing is complete, your surgeon will place the dental implant, and then your general dentist will complete the process by attaching the crown on the implant.

Be sure to talk with your oral surgeon and family dentist to answer any questions you may have about this procedure. Call Fountain Hills Dental Care at 480-837-2000.

Bone Grafting

Damage to the jawbone can be caused in areas where there are missing teeth. The jawbone can deteriorate and change the facial structure and make it unsuitable for a dental implant. Today’s technology can repair the inadequate bone in preparation for dental implants through bone grafting, restoring functionality and esthetic appearance.

Facial Trauma

General Anesthesia

While the use of a local anesthetic to prevent pain is sufficient for many dental patients, sedation or general anesthesia may be appropriate to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of dental procedures. Most commonly given by means of an injection or as an inhalant, general anesthesia describes a mixture of potent drugs that are used to induce a sleep-like state. Sedation and general anesthesia are safely and effectively used for thousands of dental procedures each year.

Jaw Bone Health, Loss and Deterioration

A strong and healthy jawbone is essential for activities such as talking and eating food. Additionally, a strong jawbone is necessary to keep all of your teeth in place. With preventative care, you can keep your jaw healthy and functioning properly well into your golden years.

Local Anesthesia

Sometimes your dentist needs to numb a part of your mouth. He or she injects medicine into your gum or inner cheek. This medicine is called local anesthesia. Lidocaine is the most common local anesthetic that dentists use, but there are many others.

There are two kinds of numbing injections. A block injection numbs an entire region of your mouth, such as one side of your lower jaw. An infiltration injection numbs a smaller area. This is the area near where the injection was given.

If you need local anesthesia in order to have your dental treatment done, your dentist will dry part of your mouth with air or cotton. Many dentists then swab the area with a gel to numb the skin. Then your dentist will slowly inject the local anesthetic. Most people don't feel the needle. Instead, the sting they feel is caused by the anesthetic moving into the tissue. An injection of local anesthesia can last up to several hours.

We'll make sure your dental procedures are as pain-free as possible. Call Fountain Hills Dental Care at 480-837-2000 to schedule an appointment.

Oral Pathology

Oral pathology is the specialty of dentistry and discipline of pathology that deals with the nature, identification and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions (the mouth and jaw areas). It is a science that investigates the causes, processes and effects of these diseases. The practice of oral pathology includes research and diagnosis of diseases using clinical, radiographic, microscopic, biochemical or other examinations.

Orofacial Pain

Ridge Expansion

The ridge bone is a special type of bone surrounding and supporting your teeth. As soon as a tooth is removed, this bone begins to deteriorate. The ridge bone can also lose density due to breakdown from age or disease. A ridge expansion is a common dental procedure often performed following a tooth extraction to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost due to bone loss.

Socket Preservation

When a dentist extracts a tooth, the procedure leaves behind a small hole where the tooth once was. This socket can be very sensitive at first, which is why your dentist may recommend socket preservation to go along with your extraction.

It's not uncommon for the bone that previously supported the tooth to melt away once the tooth is removed – it doesn't serve a purpose anymore. When this bone fades away, however, gaps form between the teeth, or the teeth can move out of alignment. This is why a socket preservation is typically performed at the same time as the tooth extraction itself.

Soft Tissue Grafting

Soft tissue grafting is often necessary to combat gum recession. Periodontal disease, trauma, aging, over-brushing, and poor tooth positioning are the leading causes of gum recession, which can lead to tooth-root exposure in severe cases. If you've recently been told by your dentist or periodontist that you need a soft tissue graft, don't panic. Gum surgery sounds worse than it is. Recent developments in dental technology have made soft tissue grafting more predictable and less intrusive.

Many people don't even notice that their gums have receded because it's a gradual process. However, over time, an exposed tooth root can not only look ugly, but can cause tooth sensitivity, especially when eating cold or hot foods. Eventually, gum recession, if not treated, can cause tooth loss. To repair the damage and prevent further dental problems, a soft tissue graft may be needed.

Extractions

Sometimes trauma, gum disease, cracked or broken teeth, and tooth decay can be too significant, and despite our best efforts to save the tooth, extractions may be the best option. No one wants to lose a tooth, but here at Fountain Hills Dental Care, we will make the process as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

When a tooth is visible above the gum line and your dentist can easily remove it with forceps, the procedure is called a simple extraction. If a more volatile tooth has yet to grow in, however, your dentist needs to remove gum tissue or bone in order to extract it. This is called a surgical extraction and may require stitches to close the site so that it can heal properly. It's important to closely follow your dentist's aftercare instructions to speed recovery and avoid any complications.

The surgical extraction of teeth may sound a bit daunting, but with today's modern procedures and anesthesia, you have nothing to worry about. Afterward, you and your dentist can discuss tooth replacement options to restore the function and beauty to your smile.

Your dentist at Fountain Hills Dental Care can determine if you need a surgical tooth extraction. Call us at today 480-837-2000.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Most people need their wisdom teeth removed because there isn’t enough space for them to come in properly. They tend to come in at an angle or they don’t fully emerge. Third molars (the wisdom teeth) routinely damage the teeth right next door, called second molars. When wisdom teeth come in sideways like this, it throws off your bite, creates an area where food gets caught, decays both of the teeth and can even cause a painful infection. Dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth before they become a problem and to avoid a more complicated surgery.

Fountain Hills Dental Care

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Fountain Hills Dental Care welcomes patients with disabilities. If you need an accommodation to receive dental services, we would be happy to provide one. Please contact us at 480-837-2000 to let us know how we may be of assistance. Services provided by an Arizona licensed general dentist.